| Following his defeat in the competition,
Lautrec had the printing house of Ancourt pull a hundred impressions of
Napoleon, an edition he may have had printed at his own expense.
In contrast to the dull academic illustration by Lucien Métivet
that was chosen by the jurors, Lautrec's design is vibrant, and combines
historical references with human insight into his subject. The Mameluke
riding at Napoleon's right and the marshal on his left suggest the victorious
Egyptian and European campaigns, while the isolated, sombre figure of
the commander riding ahead seems to embody both his power and his inevitable
downfall.
In his graphic work, Lautrec spurned illusionism and finish as
false and merely manual, adhering instead to a veracity that is visual,
suggestive, and economic. This is beautifully exemplified in the avoidance
of detail, the airy atmosphere, and the dynamic cropping of Napoleon's
horse.
The History of Napoleon I (rejected design)
1895; Desloge 46; W 140; D 358
Lithograph in six colors. 23 1/4 x 17 13/16 inches.
One state only; one edition only, no. 41 of 100 impressions.
Gift of the Baldwin M. Baldwin Foundation, 1987:64
|
